Former Detroit Pistons superstar guard and current coach of the New York Knicks and his employer, Madison Square Gardens, were hit with an 11.6 million dollar sexual harrassment verdict recently.  A female employee alleged that she was sexually harrassed in the workplace by the former Bad Boy and that his employer looked the other way.  Well, the Defendants have agreed to ante up and pay the woman 11.5 million dollars to settle the case, rather than go through a lengthy and time consuming appeal.  This will also put an end to a possible second trial against Isiah on issues that the jury did not determine at the first trial.

Many employers now bring in consultants to educate employees on issues of sexual harrassment in the workplace to avoid this type of scenario.  Consultants, many of whom are lawyers defending these cases, specifically discuss the boundaries of acceptable behavior and often even show videos depicting improper conduct.  Sexually harrassment is not just old fashioned groping, but rather the words and conduct of co-workers and employer that taint the work environment for the harrassed employee.  It is amazing, with all of the public awareness and the efforts of employers to eliminate these behaviors, that many women cannot go to work without being sexually harrassed.

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The holiday season is always full of fun and festivity, but too often people drink more alcohol than they can handle and attempt to drive the vehicle home.  Many people are just casual drinkers and believe that they “are good enough to drive,” when in fact their blood alcohol levels are over Michigan’s legal limits.  When this happens, they are considered a drunk driver under Michigan law.

Besides the potential criminal charges facing drunk drivers, many drunk drivers cause devastating accidents due to their impairments and poor judgments in operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor.  A drunk driver who injures another will not only face severe criminal penalties, but may also be the subject of a civil lawsuit seeking money damages from the injured person or his family.

In addition to the drunk driver, the bar, restaurant or establishment that furnishes a visibly intoxicated person alcohol before an accident can also be sued by the injured person. This is called a “dram shop case.”  A social host who furnishes alcohol to an intoxicated person may also be sued in a civil court by the injured person.  In Michigan, the injured person must send out a retention letter, usually by an attorney, to the person or business that furnished the alcohol within thirty days of the accident or the claim will be barred by statute.  Therefore, it is important to contact a lawyer immediately after an accident caused by a drunk driver to preserve your rights.

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Every year at this time I am contacted by clients who have suffered serious injuries due to slip and fall accidents on ice located on steps, sidewalks, and parking lots.  Many times, the hazard cannot be seen because it is “black ice” and other times the hazard is simply unavoidable.  The injuries from these falls are aften very serious, including fractured ankles, broken hips, and even brain injuries.  I had previously represented a family whose father had died after falling and striking his head on a sidewalk.

The laws in Michigan regarding slip and fall on ice cases are constantly changing.  The courts have made it more difficult to pursue these cases, even when the person suffers a very serious injury.  Each case is different and must be evaluated by the facts of the particular case.  Factors to evaluate include the location of the accident, whether it was on public or private property, whether the surface was salted before the accident, the time of day, and the serious nature of the injury. 

It is important for an injured person to report the incident to the business or store if the fall occurred at the entrance way or in the parking lot of a business.  This is necessary to  prove that the incident happened at that location and the time of the incident.  It is also helpful to take photographs, if possible, of the condition to prove that it was hazardous at or around the time of the injury.  Finally, it is also helpful to get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses who could later verify that the incident occurred and to provide evidence regarding that icy nature of the surface where the injury occurred.

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